How have the mighty fallen? OT.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 23:22:59 +0100, Clive George wrote (in article ):

Not particularly. I can get a slightly better price by buying from the U.S. however.

Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of being able to work by routine, so need to be rather more careful.

You may be fortunate in being able to predict and also in having a fairly consistent eating regime. I have neither.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:37:27 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote (in article ):

No it isn't. I have already spelled out the reasons for that in detail and with examples as to why it is not.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:38:46 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote (in article ):

I said no such thing. At no point did I say or imply that it was a generalised treatment.

I did. Very carefully and very clearly, and what I wrote was also completely clear.

For the sake of some amount of brevity, I chose not to give details on the clinical trials, indications and use of this medication. Anybody wanting to know that has only to look it up.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:28:34 +0100, June Hughes wrote (in article ):

I don't put on any airs, June. I am simply telling it the way it is.

If you are unable to tell the difference between a figurative remark and a literal one or choose not to do so, then that is really your issue and not mine.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:35:54 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote (in article ):

Come on Mary, I know that you know better than that. I really don't believe for one moment that you had any difficulty in telling the difference.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:33:10 +0100, June Hughes wrote (in article ):

I don't need any soapboxes June. As for wasting money, I do enough of that with the NHS as it is. It would be nice to keep at least some back for a rainy day.

Perhaps one day the light will dawn with enough people that they are being colossally short changed. At the point that that happens it will become interesting to take a more active stance.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:40:07 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote (in article ):

One of the main things is not to allow the bureaucrats to dictate the content of any medical diagnosis, treatment or therapy that I require, or other people if I know about it. On several occasions I have exposed their divergence from NICE guidelines and not backed down from a well researched position.

A second thing is to find a supportive GP who sees his role as a professional adviser and who does not expect to be placed on a pedestal. This was very simply achieved by researching any medical conditions that I had thoroughly and asking him for the adult explanation. For example, I want to know about HDLs, LDLs and triglycerides - not "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol". I want the exact figures, not the receptionist's story of OK or make appointment. I don't expect the doctor to resolve all the issues via the convenience of popping a pill each day.

A third thing is to inform myself by attending lectures etc.

These are all things that I can do which benefit me in one way or another. I make the time to do them. One can read through a lot of clinical research material while waiting in airport lounges.

There are many other things that I would like to be able to do but don't have the opportunity to do because I am frequently away from home. However, I can certainly contact researchers, patients, politicians and even bureaucrats by email.

One does what one can. For the moment, I have to be satisfied by that and a financial contribution by way of taxation. As I've said, I would like to see it properly spent.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:38:51 +0100, June Hughes wrote (in article ):

Well that is true, but I don't in the sense that you implied in your comment.

I can guarantee that that will never happen.

I have never bought a ticket.

It is taxation for the gullible.

I didn't say that I was spending money on a project to publicise anything. The investment is via taxation to fund a third rate broken health delivery system.

To be honest, putting it into Maxwell's pension fund would be a sounder investment.

I wasn't looking for success, simply making a set of observations.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:43:45 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote (in article ):

The problem is that my experiences (multiple ones), family and people that I know has been almost universally bad - actually not bad, but horrendous.

I don't think that I have unreasonable expectations, and it is always possible that the experience of others is better.

Perhaps they are happy to wait for months or years for appointments with consultants and treatments for anything from life threatening conditions to routine surgery and feel grateful for what they get.

Perhaps they don't mind being short changed on drugs and medical supplies.

I am afraid I don't consider any of that acceptable.

In message , Andy Hall writes

What a load of old b*****ks. Wake up Andy and get a life. We only have one each.

Why not get on with your campaign! (Not here - in the real world!)

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:36:00 +0100, June Hughes wrote (in article ):

No there isn't.

In message , Andy Hall writes

snip

So why are you spending lots of money? (your claim, not mine).

Mmm. I have the luxury of having no insulin production at all, unlike yours which is at least partly functional. Hence I have the luxury of having to control at both ends - hypo is significantly more painful short-term than hyper.

Yes, most of the time I aim for a consistent eating/exercise regime. However when it varies (which happens quite often) I'm not too bad at getting the change right.

Having seen your other posts in this thread, I wonder : are you trying too hard to get it perfect? Genuine question here.

cheers, clive

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 21:57:44 +0100, Derek ^ wrote (in article ):

What is actually sad, Derek, is that there are few if any mentions of loss of administrative jobs, only of medical staff and facilities.

I am not, of course, surprised.

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:39:32 +0100, Mary Fisher wrote (in article ):

Absolutely true, Mary.

No it isn't.

However, a properly service oriented organisation will poll its customers to find out their level of satisfaction on a range of issues. In fact, in many cases, individual incomes in the organisation will depend on it. Figures of 90-95% + are entirely achievable.

I do not see this culture in the NHS and frankly I think that the scores would be embarrassing.

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 00:54:23 +0100, June Hughes wrote (in article ):

Absolutely true, June. I am very awake, and it may be that which people find uncomfortable. I make no apology for it.

It was you who raised the subject of there being a campaign - not me.

I have simply made a few observations.

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 00:55:38 +0100, Clive George wrote (in article ):

That's a valid question, Clive, and I appreciate that it is genuinely meant.

You are right, that in general, I set myself high standards, but ones that I am confident of achieving.

In respect to BG control, it seems that it can be somewhat easier for T1s (I guess you are T1?) to maintain control and there are a number of regimens for so doing - routine being one and combinations of insulin dosage being another AIUI.

My goals are simply to maintain good range (not average for diabetic range) test figures and to avoid potential later complications. I can achieve this pretty well almost all of the time, even though I don't always have predictable insulin response and am not always able to determine in advance the effect of a given food type. I use glycaemic load figures quite effectively, however.

However, I do not and will not crucify myself to the point that life isn't worth living. I have learned what I can do and what I can't, but it does involve a frequent testing regime in order to watch and record what is happening.

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 00:54:36 +0100, June Hughes wrote (in article ):

I don't have the choice, June, unless I refuse to pay taxes and NI contributions.

It would be nice to be able to opt out of funding the NHS completely, but I already said that I don't think that that is a fair thing to do.

I do think that it would be reasonable for private healthcare to be exempt from tax, however.

In message , Andy Hall writes

You gave me to understand that you were spending lots of money on your campaign. Simple observations or not, if you are indeed doing what you said (ie putting your money where your mouth is q.v.) you are wasting time and energy posting huge articles here.